Electric switch



June 16, 1936.

T. F. WINDAS ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed July 20, 1952 2 SheetsSheet l T. F.WINDAS ELECTRIC SWITCH June 16, 1936.

Filed July 20, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Inventor fiO/Wd J2 M/rdaa Byflllomey Patented June 16, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ThomasFitchie Wlndas, Santa Barbara, Calif. Application July 20, 1932, SerialNo. 623,612

13 Claims.

My invention relates to electrical means for operating valves, andparticularly to improvements in electrical means'for operating rotaryand other types of fluid control valves,.wherein is incorporated meansfor opening or closing circuits for operating or startingthe operationof elements operatively associated'with the valve.

It is an importantobiect of my invention to provide a valve structure ofthe type described which can be connected in circuit with a clock orthermostat so as to be operated at a predetermined time and for apredetermined period, such a control being especially valuable tooperate lawn spraying or other sprinkling systems for l5 irrigationcontrol, and for operating and controlling the valves of a hot water orsteam radiator system, and for operating electrically sepa rate controlmeans forv affecting, for instance, the draft of a furnace, or theheating element or other operative part thereof.

It is also an important object of my invention to provide electricalswitch means of the mercury type which is so arranged and constructed asto avoid the undesirable effects usually pres-' ent in mercury switches,namely, the effects produced by the rebound and second contact caused bythe movement of the mercury in its container.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from areading of the following description in connection with the drawings,wherein for purposes of illustration I have shown a preferred embodimentof the invention.

In the drawings:--. Figure 1 is a general transverse vertical sectionalview through the embodiment.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken approximately on the line2-2 of Figure 1 looking downwardly.

A Figure 3 is an enlarged detailed transverse vertical sectional viewthrough Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the operating cam.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughoutthe same, thenumeral I generally designates a pipe in a. fluid conduit,

the passage from or into which of air, or liquid or steam is to becontrolled by the valveoi the invention. Upon the upper end of the pipe5 is mounted in a conventional manner the vertical valve casing G whichhas at one side the tubular 50 extension I which leads thereinto. Withinthe valve casing there is provided a tapered bore 8 with which coacts ataperedplug 9 having an opening iii in one side thereof forcommunication between the pipe 5 and the extension I. O!

55 course, the plug 9 is hollow and open at its lower end. Its upper endis closed and provided with a vertically projecting stem H which extendsvertically and rotatably through the switch casing generally designatedi2 which may be in the form of a flat drumwhose upper side is closed by5 means of a plate l3 upon which is mounted a suitably constructedelectric motor it. Under the plate ill the stem Ii has keyed to it aspider or wheel i5 which has an upwardly projecting circumferentialflange i6 whose inward side is 10 provided with teeth H with whichcooperates a pinion it on the lower end of the shaft IQ of the motor Iwhich extends through the plate I; for this operation.

On the floor 20 of the casing l2 and surroundl5 ing the stem l I is atubular housing 2| within the lower expanded portion of which is locateda helical spring 22 which operates in conjunction with a transverse pin23 through the stem Ii to maintain the stem normally in an upward posi-20 tion so as to properly position the plug 9 in the closingrelationship with the tapered bore 8 of the valve caslng and toautomatically take up wear. thereby permitting the elimination ofexpensive and troublesome packing, 26

Above the pin 23 is located a pin 24 which extends from the side of thestem and works in a slot 25 formed at one side of the high-point 2! ofthe camlii. The high-point 25' of the cam has vertically slidabletherein a spring tensioned 80 pin 21 which is normally presseddownwardly upon the upper surface of the ring 32.

The cam 26 is fastened to the underside of the web or wheel l5, and thecam being connected by the pin 24 for rotation with the valve stem i I,as 86 the wheel I5 is rotated by the motor it the valve stem II will berotated. The spring housing 2| remains stationary with the switch casingi2 while the valve stem II is being rotated.

Rockably mounted in diametrically oppositely 40 located supports 28, 29,are diametrically alined arms 30 and 3| extending from opposite sides orthe ring 32 upon the upper side of which the lower end of the springpressed pin 21 is arranged to ride. Each of the diametrical arms 30, Iicarries outwardly of the supports 28, 29 a transversely disposed glassor other suitable elongated container 33, 33a. in either end of each ofwhich is located a pair of contact conductors 34, 35 with either ofwhich a quantity of mercury within the containers is adapted to contactand bridge as the containers are tilted at one end or the other bytilting of'thering 32 according to the position of the spring finger 21with respect to the ring 22.

It will be obvious that as the motor circuit is energized in any manner,the valve stem will be rotated so as to open or close the passage offluid or the like through the extension I, and that this rotatingmovement carries the cam 26 around within the switch casing with thespring finger 21 riding upon the upper surface of the rocking ring 32,and that this causes rocking of the ring and its mercury switches so asto open and close any variety of circuits which may be introduced intothe ends of the mercury containers 3!, 33a, whereby such circuits, suchas circuits associated with the device upon which the desired valvestructure is mounted, in a manner to cause action of such devicesconcurrently with the operation of the valve, as for example, toshutofl' the name in an oil or gas burner and control the draft in acoal fired heating apparatus concurrently with the shutting off of thehot or cold air ducts and radiators, these effects being necessary to acomplete shutting off of the heating system. Other similar exampleswould be equally effective in illustrating the definite operativeconnection between the closing or opening movement of the valve and theclosing and opening of a plurality of circuits operatively associatedwith the structure upon which the valve is mounted.

In order to prevent rebound of the mercury within the containers 33, 33,each of the containers is in longitudinally bowed form so as to form adepressed pocket at either end thereof, or the same may be straight andprovided with a depression at either end. In either case, the mercuryafter moving to such end will be confined against rebounding and closinga second contact of an undesirable nature.

Though I have shown and described herein a preferred embodiment of theinvention it is to be definitely understood that I do not desire tolimit the application of the invention thereto, and any change orchanges may be made in material and structure and arrangement of parts,within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the subiointedclaims.

It. will be obvious that the device of the invention may be efficientlyemployed as a relay switch for opening and closing fuel valves or checkdraft motors in a heating system. Also the switch ring may be operatedby means of a thermostat so as to operate the motor ll. Employed tocontrol sprinkling and irrigation systems the ring 32 may be operated bymeans of an electric clock.

What is claimed is: v

1. In combination, a housing a rotatable stem within said housing.rotary cam means on said stem within said housing and secured againstrotation relative to said stem, a motor on said housing operativelyconnected to said rotary cam means, and switch means within said housingand having a rockable portion operably engaged by said cam means wherebya circuit may be opened and closed as said rotary means is operated totilt said portion, said rockable portion comprising a ring rockabLvmounted within said housing and with which said rotary cam means isslidably engaged.

2. In combination, a housing a rotatable stem within said housing,rotary cam means on said stem within said housing and secured againstrotation relative to said stem, a motor on said housing operativelyconnected to said rotary cam means, switch means within said housing andhaving a rockable portion operably engaged by said cam means whereby acircuit may be opened and closed as said rotary means is operated totilt said portion, said rockable portion comprising a rockably mountedframe, mercury switch elements carried by said frame and operable by thetilting of said frame.

3. In a device of the character described, a switch housing, a stemJournaled in said switch housing, a wheel on said stern within saidswitch housing and secured so as to rotate with said stem, means mountedon said housing operatively engaging said wheel for rotating the wheel,a switch mounted within said housing on the bot-E tom thereof and havinga tiltable member, means connected to said tiltable member for openingand closing a circuit, a cam depending from said wheel and engaging saidtiltable member for tilting the said member as said wheel is rotated.

4. In a device of the character described, a switch housing, a stemiournaled in said switch housing, a wheel on said stem within saidswitch housing and secured so as to rotate with said stem, means mountedon said housing operatively engaging saidwheel for rotating said wheel,a switch mounted within said housing on the bottom thereof and having atiltable member, means connected to said tiltable member for opening andclosing a circuit as the tiltable member is tilted, a cam depending fromsaid wheel and engaging said tiltable member for tilting the said memberas said wheel is rotated, said means comprising mercury make and breakmeans.

- 5. In a device of the character described, a switch housing, a stemJournaled in said switch housing, a wheel on said stem within saidswitch housing and secured so as to rotate with said stem, means mountedon said housing operatively engaging-said wheel for rotating the same, aswitch mounted within said housing on the bottom thereof and having atiltable member, means connected to said tiltable member for opening andclosing a circuit as the same is tilted, a cam depending from said wheeland engaging said member for tilting the same member as said wheel isrotated, said means comprising mercury make and break means, said switchincluding a ,mounting rising from said bottom of the housing around saidstem, said tiltable member comprising a ring surrounding andconcentrically spaced from said stem and from said mounting and rockablyconnected to said mounting.

6. In a device of the character described, a switch housing, a stemiournaled in said switch housing, a wheel on said stem within saidswitch housing and secured so as to rotate with said stem, means on saidhousing operatively engaging said wheel for rotating the same, switchmeans mounted within said housing and having a tiltable member, thirdmeans on said tiltable member for opening and closing at least twoseparate circuits as said member is tilted, a cam depending from saidtoothed wheel and engaging said tiltable member for tilting the samemember as said wheel is rotated, said third means comprising mercurymake and break means, said switch means including a mounting rising fromthe bottom of said housing around said stem, said tiltable membercomprising a ring surrounding and concentrically spaced from said stemand from said mounting and rockably connected to said mounting.

7. A switch comprising a housing, a rotatable shaft Journalled in saidhousing, a tubular mounting on the bottom of said housing andsurrounding said shaft, a switch member tiltably mounted on saidmounting, a wheel on said shaft above said member and secured forrotation with said shaft, a cam on said wheel operatively engaging saidtiltable member for tilting the same as said shaft is rotated, saidmember being operable to open and close a circuit as the same is tilted.

8. A switch comprising a vertical rotary shaft, means rotatablysupporting said shaft, a member tiltably mounted on said means, a cammember on said shaft and secured for rotation therewith, said cam memberhaving a portion operatively engaged with said member for tilting thesame as said shaft is rotated, switch means on said member operable bytilting thereof for opening and closing a circuit.

9. A switch comprising a housing, a rotatable shaft journalled in saidhousing, a tubular mounting on the bottom of said housing andsurrounding said shaft, a switch member tiltabiy mounted on saidmounting, a wheel on said shaft above said member and secured forrotation with said shaft, a cam on said wheel operatively engaging saidtiltable member for tilting the same as said shaft is rotated, saidmember being operable to open and close a circuit as the same is tilted,and a cam on said toothed wheel for operating switch means concurrentlywith the opening and closing of said valve, said switch means beingcarried by said tubular mounting, a pin on said shaft engaging in a slotin said cam member in a manner'to support said cam member on said shaftand prevent rotation of said cam member relative to said shaft.

10. A switch comprising a housing, a rotatable shaft journalled in saidhousing, a tubular mounting on the bottom of said housing andsurrounding said shaft, a switch member tiltably mounted on saidmounting, a'wheel on said shaft above said member and secured forrotation with said shaft, a cam on said wheel operatively engaging saidtiltable member for tilting the same as said shaft is rotated, saidmember being operable to open and close a circuit as the same is tilted,said cam on said toothed wheel operating switch means concurrently withthe rotation and counter-rotation of said shaft.

11. A switch comprising a housing, a rotatable shaft journalied in saidhousing, a tubular mounting on the bottom of said housing andsurrounding said shaft, a switch member tiltably mounted on saidmounting, a wheel on said shaft above 5 said switch member and securedfor rotation with said shaft, a cam on said wheel operativeiy engagingsaid switch member for tilting the same as said shaft is rotated, saidswitch, member being operable to open and close a circuit as the same istilted, and a cam on said toothed wheel for operating said switch memberconcurrently with the rotation and counter-rotation of said shaft.

12. A switch comprising a housing, a rotatable shaft journalled in saidhousing, a tubular mounting on the bottom of said housing andsurrounding said shaft, a switch member tiitabiy mounted on saidmounting, a toothed wheel on said shaft above said switch member andsecured for rotation with said shaft, a cam on said wheel operativelyengaging said switch member for tilting the same as said shaft isrotated, said switch member being operable to open and close a circuitas the same is tilted, said switch member includ- 5 ingcircumferentially spaced double ended mercury make and break devices,said devices extending in directions divergent from the axis of tilt ofsaid switch member.

13. A switch comprising a housing, a rotatable shaft journaled in saidhousing, a tubular mounting on the bottom of said housing andsurrounding said shaft, a switch member tiltably mounted on saidmounting, a wheel on said shaft above tiltable member and being operableto open'and close a circuit as the tiltable member is tilted, indifferent directions concurrently with the rotation and counter rotationof said rotatable shaft.

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